CFE is a classic model of acute inflammation. It is a general model for the assessment of overall inflammation and it can also be used as a method to assess acute, inflammatory pain. ThIS model gives a very quick assessment of the ability of a compound to provide anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. Agents that show activity in this assay include NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, and coxibs (modest). In addition to assessment of swelling and pain, the paws can be harvested and assessed for inflammatory mediators.

Acute swelling and hyperalgesia.

Animals are treated with compound prior to challenge with λ-carrageenan in one hind footpad. The contralateral footpad is injected with saline. Footpad thickness is measured at 0, 1, 2, and 4hrs. Paws can be harvested at the termination of study and processed for histology or biochemical end points. Assessment of serum cytokines is also possible with this model.

Footpad thickness and tissue cytokines. Paws can also be used to generate fixed to tissue for classic histology and immunohistochemistry. Measurements of novel therapeutics can be compared to standard agents such as indomethacin, dexamethasone, morphine and others.

Effect of Indomethacin and Dexamethasone

on Carrageenan Induced Footpad Edema in Rats